Improved trestle



jf ,I i genital ,P5/film atent JONATHAN GOODHER, OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

I Letters Patent No. 89,306, dated April 27, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters, Patent and making part of the name.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN GooDHER, of Burlington, county of Burlington, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in 'lrestles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of a trcstle, constructed and arranged as fully described hereafter, so that it can be adjusted to any desired height or length, and can, when not required for use, or for convenience of transportation, be packed into a small compass.

In order to enable others to make and use my in,- vention, I will now proceed to describe the mode of constructing and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved trestle;

Figures 2 and -3, side views of the same, as it appears -when adjusted to different heights;

Figure 4, also a side view, showing the method of diminishing the length of the trestle; and

Figure 5, a perspective view of a modified form of the trestle.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The top of the trestle consists of two bars A and A', the latter having at its inuerend a tongue, a, adapted to a recess of the former, so that the two bars can be easily connected together, and as readily detached from each other.

Each of the bars A and A has alongitudinal dovetailed groove, b, in which is arranged to slide, an extension-bar, e, which is retained in its place partly by the form ofthe groove, and partly by a plate, d, which bears upon thc top of the said bar.

At the outer end of each of the bars A and A', is secured a triangular box-like frame, 1), and in the opposite side-pieces e e, of each of these ii'ames, Yis a row of holes for the reception of pivots f j' f f j, to which are hung the legs H of the trestle.

There are in the present instance five of these legs H hung to each of the triangular frames D, the inner legs, upon which the trestle is supported in fig. 1, being the longest, and the others. decreasing regularly in length toward the shortened outer legs H.

These legs are arranged lto turn freely upon their pivots f, so that the trestle can be supported upon any of them, and its height regulated accordingly, (see figs. l and 2,) or where a very low trestle is required, all of the legs can be folded in, as seen in lig. 3, and the frames l) D permitted to serve as supports.

These legs which support the trestle are braced firmly,

and prevented from turning upon their pivots, by rods Ii fi, which are hooked to the inner sides of the said legs, and connected to the under sides of the bars A and A.

The above-described trestle, though applicable to many purposes, is intended principally for plasterers use, the platform upon which the workmen stand consisting of boards a: :t x, iig. 1, which are laid across two or more of the trestles, and this platform can be raised or lowered according to the height of the ceil` ing of the room, by adjusting the legs H H, as before described.

The length of the trestle can he increased when required, by drawing out the extension bars c c, and when it is necessary to shorten the platform, the trestle may in some cases be arranged, as shown in iig. 4.

It will be evident that the above arrangement of legs is applicable not only to trestles, but to tables, platforms, Ste., the height of which it is desired to change from time to time.

Blocks J J, which are hooked to the ends of the frames D D of the trestle, are provided with pins s s, between which a board may be inserted edgeways, as seen in iig. 5, when a trestle of a few inches in height is required. y

l/Vhen not required for use, or for convenience of transportation, the bars A and A of the trestle can be detached from each other, the legs folded up, and the whole packed into a small compass.

Although I prefer to hinge the legs H to separate bars A and A, arranged for attachment to each other as above, yet it will be evident that they can if desired, be pivotedv to the opposite ends of a single bar.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A trestle, provided at each end with a number of hinged legs, H, of different lengths, arranged for adjustment, substantially as herein described, for the purpose of regulating the height ot' the said trestle.

2. The combination with the sections A A', having hinged legs H of bars c c, adjustable on and independently of the said sections, for the purpose set forth.

3 The blocks J J with their pins s, when arranged for attachment to the end-pieces of the trestle, substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof', I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JONATHAN GOODHER. Witnesses:

J ons WHITE, LoUIs BoswELL. 

